early associations crowded on his mind; he knelt down by a stone, and like Jacob, vowed" If God will be with me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God."

He had but one acquaintance in this city, and into his employment he entered. The Lord accepted of the dedication of his young servant, and his mind gradually opened to divine truth. -The late Mrs. Isabella Graham was the first person to whom he opened his mind on the subject of his own personal religion. She led him to her pastor, who afterwards became his intimate friend, the Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason, under whose preaching he was brought to the enjoyment of that liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free. In 1793-4, he joined in communion with the Associate Reformed Church, and in 1802 was ordained an elder of that church. He continued in that connexion until the Rev. Dr. Mason resigned his pastoral charge. Mr. Bethune then removed to the Presbyterian Church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, where he continued an active officer until translated to the church above.

Mr. B. entered on his mercantile life, December 1794. His first partner was Mr. John Lewis Vanden Enden; he was a truly pious man, and a member of the Reformed Dutch Church. On the 1st of July following, he married Miss Joanna Graham, to whom he had long been attached, the daughter of his spiritual mother, the late Mrs. Isabella Graham; and in August of the same year, he was attacked with yellow fever, and shortly after, followed to the grave his dear friend and partner, who fell a victim to that disease.

Mr. Bethune experienced many vicissitudes in his mercantile career; but in business he set the Lord always before him. From the time he professed the name of Christ, he kept a record of the Lord's dealings with him. When in any difficulty, he spread the matter before him; then looked out texts and promises suitable to his situation, recorded them in his book, and continued to plead them before the Lord until he received an answer, which he also recorded. Before there was a Tract Society in this country,

he printed 10,000 tracts at his own expense, put them in a store for sale at cost, and never travelled without them; few were sold; he gave them to ministers and others travelling through the country. He likewise imported Bibles for distribution, in which he was aided by his mother, Mrs. G. From the year 1803 to 1816, he was at the sole expense of one or more Sunday Schools, and in many instances furnished the children with shoes. He set apart the tenth of his gains for the service of the Lord, but never limited himself;-that portion usually went to great undertakings;while minor calls were so answered, that the left hand knew not what the right hand did. He was at the formation of many, and took an active part in most of the charitable and religious institutions in this city, and was a liberal donor to those of his native land. He was a zealous friend to the Theological Seminaries of the Associate Reformed and Presbyterian churches. Like Job, "he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him;" and his family never was without them as inmates. The last day only will disclose the unwearied benevolence and holy zeal of this man of God.

Although Mr. Bethune had the appearance of vigorous health, he had many severe illnesses;-for two years previous to his decease his health evidently declined. During the last spring and summer his strength and flesh gradually failed; while he used every means for the restoration of his health, he seemed to anticipate the end of his labours, and set his house in order. He arrived at his home, September 11th, from Saratoga Springs, and on the Saturday following his happy spirit took its flight. Wednesday morning he thus addressed his family Physician, "Doctor, you are acquainted with my constitution, I want you to examine me particularly, and to tell me whether you think I shall recover. I have all along doubted it, and am perfectly willing to go if it be the Lord's will. You have been in the habit of smoothing the dying beds of our family, and I wish you to be near mine." After the physicians left him, he told Mrs. B. he was perfectly willing to take their prescriptions, as they seemed to have a claim on him, but did not expect they would do any good; he felt his race

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was run, and wished to be permitted to depart. Mrs. B. asked him if he felt any pain? he answered, "No." She asked him if his mind was easy? he replied, "O yes, O yes; glad should I be to be permitted to say nothing, but to go home." She said, I have not been worthy of you." yes,' ," he replied, "but you have idolized me a little; live near to God, and when he takes away your husband, my love, and your father, my dear children, he will be a husband and a father to you and to your children [naming his grand-children.] The promise is to you and to your children." Mrs. B. said, "You have been a faithful father to them;" he said, "Yes, with all my folly I held fast by the covenant for them, and what is there but that covenant? Dear, dear children! I love my children, extending a hand to each of them and naming the absent one." Shortly after, he said "The Lord has been preparing me for this; he has been showing me the folly of my own heart and the wickedness of this world. O what a wicked, wicked world! I long to depart. I want to lean on my master's bosom, while passing through the dark valley. I wish my friends to help me through the valley by reading to me the word of God. I have not read much lately but the Bible; the Bible! the Bible! I want nothing but the Bible. O the light that has shone into my soul through the Bible." His son brought "Mrs. Graham's provision for passing Jordan," he said, "Give me my Saviour's words, read the 14th of John. It was God's word; it is all truth; I love it;" after the chapter was read, he said, "Now leave me alone for a little while," Mrs. B. mentioned to him, on Thursday evening, that there was a prayermeeting of his fellow church-members, where he was made the subject of special prayer; he said, "O I am glad, that cheers me, I love to think that Christians are praying for me." Mrs. B. begged him to try and sleep; "Yes," said he, "I wish to sleep; and O! I want the long sleep; all you who have your time of watching around my bed, keep me still and asleep." Mrs. B. called to his remembrance a remark he had often quoted of his dear young friend, Mr. Summerfield, respecting Peter, "that when the church was praying for Peter, and heaven and hell were engaged about him, Peter was asleep."

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Seeing his son-in-law by his bed-side, he laid his hand on his head, and said, "Preach the Gospel, my son." "" His own son coming in, he laid his hand upon his head, "Preach the Gospel; telf dying sinners of a Saviour; mind nothing else, it is all folly. And you too, dear child," extending his hand to Mrs. M'C., you have always been a dutiful child to me." To Miss V. he said, "You, dear friend, who have been to me as a daughter, I thank you for all your kindness; the Lord will reward you; the blessings of the God of Jacob will rest upon you; and now I am tired, I want to rest." In the night of Thursday he said to Mrs. B., "What a strange disease this has been ; how have I been brought down by degrees till Tuesday, when I seemed to go all at once. What do the physicians think now?" She replied, that they thought there was a possibility that he might recover, and wished him to take medicine and nourishment. "And what is my duty?" she said, "to be passive in the hands of the Lord." Soon after he said, "O! Joanna, pray for my soul, and pray for my body, that it may be easy while passing through the valley. I wish no display, but let it be laid decently in the grave, and O! do not praise me; praise the Saviour. O what a Saviour! Blessed Saviour! I want to go to my Saviour. Don't let any thing be said over me when I am gone; too much is said in praise of man; but let my brethren sing the 146th Psalm, as expressive of my dying exercises :

"I'll praise my Maker while I've breath, "And when my voice is lost in death," &c.

Friday, Mrs. W., a faithful domestic, coming in, he thus addressed her: "O! Mrs. W., dear friend, you have been kind to me, may the Lord reward you. You had the privilege of seeing one dear friend* depart to glory; now, I trust, you shall see another. I hope you have all chosen the Saviour." To Mr. A., a Christian friend, he said, "All that my Christian friends have to do for me now, is to pray that strength may be given me while passing through the dark valley," Mr. A. said, "God will not leave you now." "No, I trust my Saviour, I love him, and he loves me: Oh! how wondrously he has loved me, no tongue can tell."

On Friday he said, "I have been disappointed, I thought before this to have *Mrs, Graham.

been with my dear Saviour! my blessed, blessed Saviour!" Mr. M'C. answered, "In all probability you will see him soon. "Yes," he exclaimed, "I hope so;" then pausing a moment, he added, "I expect to take the lowest seat at the feet of my Redeemer." Shortly after, he asked if there was no one to pray with him? His wish was immediately complied with. During the prayer his spirit was evidently spreading her wings for flight, and he exclaimed, as the prayer was closed, "O yes, it is true, all true and all precious." "Then you find the Lord, your Redeemer, still near you," said Mr. M'C.; "Yes," was his reply, as his faith rose in its full triumph; "the eternal God is my refuge, and underneath me are the everlasting arms." The same day he called his dear wife; she was near him; putting his arms round her, he said, "My dear Joanna, I want you to be near me while passing through the valley, and to comfort me with good words: O, my dear wife, let me go!" Shortly after, "I want the brightness of my Father's glory to take me home, and I want a dear wife to let me go." She said, "The Lord's time is best, and whatever is his will, I trust I shall be enabled to submit to."

"Yes," he replied, "but still, but still!"-Supposing that he alluded to her praying for his recovery, she said, "My dear love, I am willing, since you desire it, to give you up to your Saviour." He seemed relieved, and again putting his arm around her, said, "You have always been a dear, kind wife to me." Mrs. B. mentioned the names of some Christian friends, and asked him if he wished to see them: he replied, "The dear Shepherd's face is all I wish to see; but tell them all to pray for me; it is consoling to me to think they are praying for me: I want their prayers to help me through the dark valley." During the night of Friday, he kindly remembered all under his care in the counting-house. On the morning of Saturday, a youth, his apprentice, came to see him; he took him by the hand, and said, "Dear Edward, I thought to have trained you for this world and the next; but the Lord will take care of you; seek the Saviour!" About eight o'clock, he said, “I am perfectly satisfied, I am perfectly satisfied!" and thus closed his testimony to the truth of the promises and the preciousness of the grace of his blessed Saviour, and immediately the work of dissolution began.

The character of Mr. Bethune is thus briefly and accurately summed up in the funeral sermon by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Romeyn.

"With almost every society for the promotion of religion and the melioration of human misery in this city, he has been connected since he professed the name of Christ, and his life has been that of a devoted follower of his Lord and master in the different relations which he has sustained. Few laymen ever appeared in our judicatories who commanded more respect and possessed more influence. He was listened to with attention by all, and however diversified might be the opinions amongst them, his word and his judgment rarely failed to command their merited tribute. His perception was quick, and his judgment, when called into exercise under his conscious responsibility, solid and substantial. A kinder man never lived; one more open to advice-more forbearing tohim did not greet his visits? You found ward others. Who among those that knew him the Christian decided, and the worldly gentleman acknowledged. Few, very few, had the talent of commending the Gospel and its truths to others in a way more attractive, and powerful from its attraction."

The closing scene corresponded with the tenor of his life. The uniform and distinguishing characteristic of his dying exercises, was an entire absorption of spirit in the view of the glory and in the feeling of the preciousness of the grace of the Lord Jesus. They strikingly displayed the importance of early religious habits, of thorough scriptural knowledge, and of a consistent Christian life. The fruit of these he found in the clear, calm, and firm operations of a living faith, and a hope that did not make ashamed; affording to all around him the visible and audible proofs that he had "arrived at the fulness of the stature of a man in Christ Jesus." His prayers were heard; his passage through Jordan was calm and easy; and without a groan or a sigh he fell asleep on the bosom of that Redeemer whom he loved to serve during life, and whom he longed to see eye to eye, and face to face, in the upper sanctuary.

"Night dews fall not more gently on the ground, [soft,"

"Nor weary, worn-out winds expire more than this follower of the Lamb passed from his pilgrimage on earth to his loved home in the skies, the mansion his Master had prepared for him.

LOOKING BACK.

Call to remembrance the former days.-Heb. x. 32. BACKWARD the thoughtful spirit turns Reviewing what has been;

Times chequer'd changing scene discerns, And many a useful lesson learns

From things no longer seen.

Some that aspir'd to high renown

Have sunk to rise no more; And some who scorn'd the Tyrant's frown, Who in the dust were trodden down, Have nobl learn'd to soar. What myriads on the lap of earth Unmiss'd, forgotten, lie;

What myriads take their place by birth, Heirs to their grov'ling toil or mirth,

Then, like their fathers, die.

Yet some from vice, or virtue, claim
Remembrance long behind;
So Lewis quits a pamper'd frame,
To live in Epicurean fame,
A warning to mankind.
When Byron, with polluted strains,
Would sacred themes defile;
Wisdom the poison'd verse disdains,
And grieves that Genius ever deigns
To die with song so vile.

When Tamehamea-monarch mean,
The British kindness tried;
The half-barbarian King and Queen
Were mourn'd with sorrow pure and keer,
Who seeking knowledge, died.
Though Smith-who words of peace had
borne

To Afric's slave-bound race,
Was doom'd to die th' Oppressor's scorn,
All hearts the injur'd martyr mourn,

And mourn the land's disgrace.

The great, the rich may disappear,
And few their loss regret;
But humble men, with hearts sincere,
To God, to Man, to Virtue dear,
We never can forget.

LOOKING AROUND.

All thy works praise thee, O Lord.-Psalm clv. 10.
WHO can the wond'rous power declare?
Or comprehend the skill profound,
That form'd this universe so fair,

And roll'd the planets' ceaseless round? Who gave the sun to rule the day,

And moon and stars to cheer the night? While time and seasons pass awayThe Eternal God-the Infinite. He leads stern Winter from the north, And spreads the fields with nitrous

snow;

He bids the gentle Spring come forth,

And sweet the tinted flowerets blow. He makes the fervid Summer shine,

And clad with golden corn the ground; He guides old Autumn's swift decline, With grateful peace and plenty crown'd. Blind to the future man remains,

Nor dare he of to-morrow boast; But watchful Providence ordains His present lot, his future post. By erring mortals oft withstood,

Who rashly blame what least they know, Yet all his measures work for good,

And all from boundless mercy flow. Contending chiefs, with hostile swords, To rule the world, enslave or kill; The King of kings, and Lord of lords Confounds their council at his will.

Borne downward by the tide of years,
Vast empires to the gulf descend;
But Truth a mighty kingdom rears,

To stand when Time itself shall end. Time brought the day that Abraham saw, Who closed the types, fulfill'd the law, The Child was born, the Son was given, And, conquering Death, re-open'd Heaven.

And Time shall see his kingdom spread Till every land his truth embrace, Made one in Him, their living Head, Whose law is Love, whose throne is Grace.

OH Thou! whose omnipotent hand Time's course dost infallibly guide; Thy purpose for ever shall stand,

Thy judgment shall all things decide. Our days they are evil and few,

And often are squander'd away, But thou dost their usage review,

And thou wilt their wasting repay. Man feels at a mortal dismay,

Whose passions with impotence join, Yet mocks at thy mercy's delay,

The threat of thy vengeance divine. But Time for thy purpose is doom'dThe deluge the world did o'erflowBy fire was Sodom consum'd

And Judah laid waste by the foe. Worn out with affliction severe, The patient at length may complain, Oh when will the comfort appear, I hope and I sue for in vain!

Thy purpose is not to destroy,
The furnace is but to refine;
Their sorrows shall turn into joy,

Their light out of darkness shall shine. "Fatigu'd by the length of the way, "And griev'd with the men of the land," Believers may long for the day

At peace in thy presence to stand.. Time soon shall thy purpose complete, The end long expected shall come; Then rest to the weary, how sweet, And bless'd to the pilgrim is home. The scoffers presume to exclaim,

Oh, when shall the Judgment appear? All nature continues the same,

And mortals have nothing to fear. The time of thy purpose conceal'd, All nature dissolving shall show; The roll of thy justice reveal'd, The saint and the sinner shall know. ALIQUIS.

Considerations on the subject of Calvinism, and a Short Treatise on Regencration, &c. By William Bruce Knight, A. M., Chancellor of Llandaff Cathedral, &c. 8vo. pp. 169. Longman & Co. 4s. EXCEPTING Bishop Tomline's pretended Refutation of Calvinism, we do not recollect ever to have met with a more striking instance than the work before us, of a book written upon the principle of the sophisms, ignoratio elenchi, and non causa pro causâ. Mr. Knight seems to be a man of moderate talents, and we do not doubt his sincerity and earnestness; but he shows himself to be ignorant, in a degree which we should previously have almost thought incredible, of the most obvious and essential parts of the Calvinistic doctrines. He appears to have read, rather scantily we suspect, a few Pelagian and Arminian authors; and, without the least care to examine Calvinistic writers for himself, he has derived from his unfaithful guides a monstrous compound of Antinomianism, fatalism, folly and impiety, and this he unhesitatingly takes up as Calvinism! He sup. poses himself, no doubt, to proceed very logically by prefixing to his treatise, what he calls "the Five Points, as contained in the Five Articles of the Synod of Dort;" so that "the reader may clearly know what peculiar doctrines this treatise is designed to oppose.” Then he copies, from Bishop Tomline, the pretended Articles of the synod, which that ignorant and careless prelate had horrowed from the notoriously unfair and bigotted Peter Heylin; and which are, both in substance and design, a falsification and a forgery. A scholar would not publish scholia on a classic, of which he had read only a translation, or what was palmed upon him as a translation. A judge looks at the original deed, and does not commit himself upon the mere statements of counsel. A clergyman, a master of arts, an examining chaplain, a theologian by profession, ought to study religious doctrines at their fountains, and not drink up the distant and muddy puddles. Above all, a Christian should be upright and faithful; he should "not jadge before he has examined the truth ; he should understand first, and then rebuke." Had Mr. Knight acted like an enlightened scholar, an equitable judge, a judicious divine, or a candid Christian, he

VOL. III,

Synodi Dordrecene, and he would have been saved from the disgrace of being betrayed by false authorities. As a specimen of this scandalous perversion, we take his first article, and shall subjoin to it as close a version as we can make of the corresponding part of the canons of the council.

would have consulted for himself the Acta

1."Of Divine Predestination.-That God by an absolute decree hath elected to salvation a very small number of men, without any regard to their faith or obedience whatsoever, and secluded from saving grace all the rest of mankind, and appointed them by the same decree to eternal damnation, without any regard to their infidelity or impenitency."-Mr. Knight, p. vi.

"Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, by which before the foundations of the world were laid, he chose in Christ (whom also from eternity he constituted Mediator, and the head of all the elect, and the foundation of salvation,) out of the whole human race which had fallen by its own fault from its primeval innocence into sin and ruin, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will and. out of pure grace, a fixed multitude of men, neither better nor more worthy than others, but lying with the rest in their common state of misery; and thus decreed to give them to Christ that they might be saved, efficaciously to call and draw them by his word and Spirit to communion with Christ, (which is conferring upon them true faith in him,) to justify them,to sanctify them, by his power to preserve them in communion with his Son, and finally to glorify them: to the showing forth of his mercy, and to the praise of the riches of his glorious grace. This election has not taken place from the foresight of faith, or the obedience of faith or holiness, or any other good quality or disposition, as the cause or condition of the election of any; but it is UNTO faith, the obedience of faith, and holiness. Wherefore election is the fountain of all the blessings of salvation, from which flow, as its fruits and effects, faith, holiness, and all the other saving gifts of God, and finally eternal life itself. As God is infinitely wise, unchangeable, omniscient, and almighty, so his gracious choice, cannot be obstructed nor altered, nor recalled, nor broken off; neither can the elect

C